'Cornwall'

The Cornwall, 580 ton barque left London/Gravesend 15 August
1851 and arrived at Port Cooper (Lyttelton) 10 December 1851 and continued on 2 January
for Wellington and Nelson. List of Persons whom the Canterbury
Association have authorized to embark for Canterbury, New Zealand.
Shipping Office, Canterbury Association, 74, Cornhill. August 12, 1851William Dawson, Commander, Dr. Phillips, Surgeon-Superintendant, Frederick Young, Manger of Shipping

GENT family Chas, James, Edward, William, Edward, Sarah
appear inPassenger Lists of the Canterbury Association Ships,
published 1900but not on the above list.

Dillon: Information courtesy of Peter Dillon. All six DILLONs on the 'Cornwall'
passenger list are the same family. Arethusa was really called Frederick and was
male, not female. I have never been able to discover why the name Arethusa is there in the
passenger list, maybe the clerk writing it down got it wrong. Maybe it was a nickname, but
there is no other record of Frederick being called Arethusa, which is a female name
derived from a nymph in Greek mythology. It has commonly been used as a name for
British ships, especially warships, and some have been famous, including the 'saucy
Arethusa' which was involved in a battle with the French in 1778. There was even an Arethusa
which brought passengers to New Zealand. There is now an Arethusa class of
British war vessel.

Frederick and his brothers Thomas & Alfred were baptised during the voyage
of the 'Cornwall' by the Rev. TWIGGER (Cornwall Papers, Canterbury Museum Archives).
Frederick was baptised as Frederick. The Rev. TWIGGER was somewhat
disreputable: he caused problems during the voyage when in the grip of delirium tremens.
Letitia Wilbee, a chief cabin passenger was the housekeeper to Rev.
Twigger and had a child together had a child together (Elizabeth Ann Twigger
WILBEE). Rev. TWIGGER met his end by drowning in the Avon River after drinking at
the
nearby White Hart Hotel. John
Twigger

The DILLONs had a previous go at NZ arriving 1842 at the new Nelson settlement on the 'Fifeshire'. They were no
relation to the more well-known Constantine DILLON who also arrived at the new Nelson
settlement a ship or two later. Thomas and Eleanor DILLON nee NOWELL and their
infant daughter Ellen Jane DILLON were from Bath, England where Thomas came from a line of
butchers, also called Thomas DILLON. Several DILLON relations & their
descendants were also butchers in Bath. Eleanor's father, Joseph NOWELL, was also a
butcher. Virtually all the DILLONs in Bath were connected. On the 'Fifeshire'
to Nelson with the DILLONs was Maria NOWELL, a younger sister to Eleanor, but I have been
unable to discover her subsequent history.

In Nelson Thomas was a butcher. Son Thomas Harford DILLON was born Dec 21 1841 in
the Indian Ocean near the islands of St Paul & Amsterdam (according to an old family
bible) during the voyage of the
'Fifeshire'. We
assume that he was named for the captain of the vessel, Harford ARNOLD. The birth is
recorded on a list of births & deaths re the voyage in the surgeon's papers for the
'Fifeshire' at National Archives. Frederick was Frederick Nelson DILLON born Nelson,
NZ in 1844. Alfred Wellington DILLON was born at Wellington in 1847. Some time after
1847 the DILLONs went back to England. A child Francis Robert was born at
Bristol. Francis Robert died in London in 1851 not long before the voyage on the 'Cornwall'
to Lyttelton.

Regarding the passenger list of the CORNWALL:
The MacDonald Index card D288 says that one of the DILLON children on the
ship CORNWALL was Arethusa. That name does appear in an original passenger
list (CORNWALL PAPERS, Canterbury Museum) but I think it was a mistake by
whoever made the passenger list in the first place, unless it was a nickname
but I don’t think so. That child is actually Frederick Nelson DILLON who was
born at Nelson in 1847. He appears as F. or F. N. or Frederick or Fred or
Frederick Nelson in all other references to him in sources. For example the
three brothers Tom, Fred and Alfred were baptised during the voyage of the
CORNWALL to Canterbury in 1851 by Rev Josiah TWIGGER with Frederick baptised
under his real name (CORNWALL PAPERS, Canterbury Museum). Fred is called
Frederick in the 1851 census south of the Thames in the Blackfriars area of
London not long before the voyage. it’s an interesting coincidence that the
name of the parish in the census was Christ Church (the name of the local
church) when of course the family was soon to head to Christchurch in NZ.
The barrack arrangements for the ship CORNWALL in 1851 show Frederick’s name
properly (CORNWALL PAPERS, Canterbury Museum). i.e. 30 Mar 1851 Census
of England
@ 3 William Street, Christ Church, Southwark, London
Thomas DILLON Head Marr 34 Butcher b. Bath, Somerset
Ellen DILLON Wife Marr 33 Butchers Wife b. Bath, Somerset
Ellen DILLON Dau 11 Butchers Daur, Scholar b. Bath, Somerset
Thomas DILLON Son 09 Butcher’s Son, Scholar b. At Sea
Frederick DILLON Son 07 Butcher’s Son, Scholar b. Nelson, New Zealand
Alfred DILLON Son 03 Butcher’s Son, Scholar b. Wellington, New Zealand
Frank DILLON Son 6 mo Butcher’s Son b. Bristol, Glo’shire

- the 3 boys Thomas, Frederick and Alfred are bracketed together as being
‘British Subjects’. Thomas was born “at Sea” 12.30 pm Tuesday 21 Dec 1841 on
the ship FIFESHIRE in the Indian Ocean near the islands of St Paul and
Amsterdam on the way to the new Nelson settlement. I can be that specific
because the details are in an old family bible. The report of the surgeon
William SPENCE on the the ship FIFESHIRE confirms that Elenor DILLON had a
male child born on that date (FIFESHIRE PAPERS, Archives NZ Wellington).
Frank is Francis Robert DILLON who was born at Bristol in
1850. He died a week after the census only 7 months old so did not make it
to New Zealand. The youngest member of the family was Clara Thompson DILLON
who wasn’t born until 25 Sep 1852 in Christchurch and was baptised at St
Michaels in 1859.

Alfred Wellington DILLON went to the gold rush at the Wakamarina diggings
and did well. He then worked for a Mr ISADORE driving stagecoaches. Then he
and a partner MCARTNEY bought out ISADORE. They ran coaches between Picton,
Blenheim and the Wairau. Then Alfred went bullock driving in the Pelorus
Sounds, then he had a stint waggon driving in Canterbury, then he took
charge of a sawmill at Manaroa at Clova Bay, which is in the Pelorus Sounds.
In 1877 he took the Commercial Hotel in Grove rd Blenheim 1877-1880, then
the Awatere Accommodation House 1880-1883, then he bought a farm at Waikari
in North Canterbury. He lost money farming and sold up in 1886. He and his
family returned from Canterbury to Marlborough by stagecoach, the first time
it had been done, Alfred driving and the family living on board. Not long
after Alfred took the Pelorus Hotel at Canvastown in 1886, the first of
three stints there. He left to take charge of the Waikakaho Hotel which he
had built (there was a gold rush there). Alfred returned to the Pelorus
Hotel then left again to take the Grovetown Hotel. He left the Grovetown
Hotel and in 1898 took over the Pelorus Hotel again. he had a new Pelorus
Hotel built in 1903 which opened in 1904. It is now known as the Trout
Hotel. In 1907 Alfred left the Pelorus Hotel for the last time. For a while
he ran an express carriage service (people and deliveries) and in 1908 he
and his wife took on the White Hart Hotel in Richmond. it bankrupted them in
1909. Alfred became a milkman at Blenheim. he sold his milk walk in 1919 and
died 1921 age 74.
From 1877 we can find lots of newspaper reports for decades
regarding Alfred and his horses’ exploits. Unfortunately their is a gap
between 1868 and 1873 in the Marlborough Express at papers Past which is a
shame because I reckon the odd article in the missing years might flesh out
Alfred’s story more. When he married 1872 I know he had been resident at
Picton for 6 years implying that he may have begun coach driving say about
1866. That would be about right because the early Wakamarina gold rush began
1864 and had pretty much done its dash by the end of 1865.

Mallock
John Willoughby MALLOCK arrived on the ship CORNWALL to Lyttelton Dec 1851
same as the DILLON family. Therefore the DILLON family knew him before they
even got to NZ. He stayed at the DILLON’s boarding house in George GOULD’s
old house and shop in Armagh St next to the Golden Fleece Hotel. And it
looks like Mrs DILLON’s son Fred DILLON was a top trainer and rider
especially for J. W. MALLOCK. But it seems very likely from the
circumstantial evidence. DILLON was not a common name that early in Chch. It
still isn’t common.

The MacDonald Index card D288 at Canterbury Museum regarding the DILLON
family refers to a number of people tied up with early horse racing in
Canterbury including Henry Porcher LANCE (brother of James Dupre LANCE) and
the MALLOCK’s who were the brothers John Willoughby MALLOCK and George Arden
MALLOCK. i.e. D 288
“After George GOULD left his grocer’s shop and dwelling house in Armagh
Street, the DILLONs took it and Mrs DILLON conducted it as a boarding house.
It became a kind of sporting men’s club and many well known settlers, such
as the MALLOCKs, Tom MCDONALD, the ENYS brothers and H.P.LANCE stayed there.
Orbell Willoughby OAKES q.v. lived there. Sporting men such as LEACH, Tom
MACDONALD and others gathered there when their training work was done for
the day"

In the old days in the newspapers, and a fair way into the 20th century, the
sporting columns were actually horse racing columns. What we would consider
as sports today had their own columns. When MacDonald says that Mrs DILLON’s
boarding house became “a kind of sporting men’s club” and that “sporting
men.....gathered there when their training work was done for the day,” I’m
confident that it is meant by sporting men is that they were horse racing
men and that the training referred to was or the horse training variety.

J. W. MALLOCK was among the most prominent horse owners in early Canterbury
racing, if not THE most prominent owner, as was LANCE. MALLOCK stabled race
horses at the Golden Fleece where they were trained. LEACH and Tom MCDONALD
were prominent horse trainers/riders. Orbell Willoughby OAKES had horses
too. ENYS brothers is the only name of the boarders for whom I cannot find
racing background. The ENYS brothers were John Davies ENYS and Charles ENYS.
Orbell Willoughby Oakes was a solicitor. He certainly owned a race horse.
"Orbell Willoughby
Oakes, whose office was near the old Town Hall in High Street, was
referred to as 'a pompous London cockney who went to Hokitika during the
gold rush and made money, returning later to England and entering into
business as a financial agent in London.' "

Alfred Wellington DILLON, the son of Mrs DILLON, had a heck of a lot to do
with horses when he lived in Marlborough for many years. He was a
steeplechase rider and huntsman in later years, and trained and owned and
bred many racehorses over the years with lots of successful ones. The
Encyclopedia of NZ of 1905 says, "He was educated at primary and secondary
schools in Christchurch, for some years was employed as a jockey...." I know
that his brother Frederick Nelson DILLON was a horse trainer and owner prior
to 1900 at Napier (he went to the North Island later in life).

An reminiscence published in 1897 about early horse racing in Canterbury,
apparently first published in the Canterbury Times twenty years before, says
that Fred DILLON and T. MCDONALD rode Mr MALLOCK's horses in their work at
the stables of the Golden Fleece Hotel on the corner of Colombo and Armagh
in Chch. At that time the DILLON family lived immediately next door to the
Golden Fleece in George GOULD's old house and shop which was said to be the
oldest built house in Christchurch (prefabricated in Auckland and brought
down to Chch early 1851). T. MCDONALD was probably Tom MCDONALD who
inhabited the DILLONs' boarding house. The Golden Fleece next door to the
DILLON’s was associated with racing activity in early Chch with race horses
in the stables and was a venue for meetings regarding racing including the
formation of the Canterbury Jockey Club in the same period. Henry Porcher
LANCE was at the latter meeting. He owned and rode race horses, and became
secretary and handicapper for the Canterbury Jockey Club for many years. He
also played cricket for Canterbury.

The 1897
reminiscence has another trainer HODGSON living at Mrs DILLON's.
Possibly he was
"Christopher George Hodgson, who married a daughter of John Shand, of Avon
Lodge, Riccarton, practised as a solicitor in the fifties and was
caricatured as "a rather handsome, ruddy, well-built Englishman, more of a
sport than a lawyer - a racing enthusiast." Tom Hichens was his clerk, and
among his sporting chums were Tom White, of Oxford, Holland, Jim Moorhouse,
Tom Adams, John D. Brittan and other well known early colonists."

In newspaper articles from 1859 we see a DILLON as a rider in many horse
races especially for J. W. MALLOCK and for Mr LANCE, and by 1862 F. DILLON
alternating with DILLON. In 1868 a Fred DILLON looked after MALLOCK's horses
for a race meeting at Nelson, the horses having arrived from the Amuri. By
1870 an F.DILLON owned race horses as well as an F. DILLON riding them.
After that the references to F. DILLON at Papers Past seem to dry up.

Here’s an interesting court case in which the accused,
Francis William PRINS, used J. D. LANCE’s name to get money out of Mrs
DILLON.
04 Apr 1860 Lyttelton Times, Page 4
RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Christchurch-Saturday, March 24th.
(Before W. J. Hamilton, Esq., R.M.) OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES.
REGINA BY ELEANOR DILLON V. FRANCIS WILLIAM PRINS.
The prisoner had applied for a remand until today in order that he might
make his defence.
Ellen Jane DILLON being sworn deposed as follows:-I am the daughter of
Eleanor DILLON, and reside in Christchurch. I know the prisoner. On Tuesday
the 13th instant he came to my mother's house; he asked if my mother was in;
he then asked who managed the house. I said I did. He then, told me he had
come down with Mr LANCE's dray, and that he wished to put the bullocks in
the stockyard; he told me he wanted £3, but that it did riot matter if it
were 10s; he said that Mr LANCE had desired him to come to my mother to get
some money. I gave him 3s on that day or the next day; he came the next day
and saw my mother. I did not see him again. The money I gave him was my
mother's, which had been left at home for the use of the house.
Eleanor DILLON being sworn deposed as follows: - I keep a board and lodging
house in Christchurch. I know the prisoner. On the 14th instant he came to
my house. I had just come home from Port Lyttelton. Prisoner said he had.
been waiting for me these two days; that he had been working: for Mr LANCE,
driving bullocks; that he had been lodging at Banks', and that he wanted
some money to pay for his lodgings and for the expenses of the dray; he said
he was to receive the money on Mr LANCE's account. I gave him 17s that day.
Next morning he came to my house and brought a signed receipt for £2, asking
me to let him have another pound as he had not enough to pay his expenses
back to Mr LANCE's station. I then gave him a sovereign and accepted the
receipt for £2. The same evening a man named "Alick" came to my house with
another receipt for £3, signed by the prisoner, and asked for the £2
receipt; he said he wanted another pound for the prisoner, as he (the
prisoner) said he could not go up without it. I said it was very strange for
him to send for money in this way. I told my son Alfred to borrow a pound
for me, and to be sure and see Alick give it to the prisoner. Alick gave me
the receipt, which I now produce. The second receipt was given to Alick; I
think by me. I have never before given money to a person coming to me
without a signed order. I had never seen the prisoner before. I gave the
money to the prisoner because I owed Mr LANCE some money, and prisoner spoke
of Mr LANCE as if he had known him well.
Alexander Wentworth READING, being sworn, deposed as follows-I am a labourer
and reside at the Royal Hotel, Christchurch. I know the prisoner; I saw him
at the Royal last Thursday night. He told me he had some bullocks over at Mr
LOWTHER's new house in the road. He asked me if I knew Mrs DILLON, and where
she lived. I said I did. He then asked me if I would go over to her house
with a £1 order, and a receipt for £3, and to bring a receipt for £2 back. I
went to Mrs DILLON's. Mrs DILLON's son gave me a sovereign. I gave it to the
prisoner, and he gave me 2s. 6d for going. I brought the £2 receipt back to
the prisoner, and I saw him tear it up. The £3 receipt now produced is the
one I saw prisoner write, and is the one he gave me to give to Mrs DILLON.
The prisoner told me he was bullock driving for Mr LANCE.
By the Prisoner-l have never seen the £3 receipt from the time I gave it to
Mrs DILLON until now.
James Dupre LANCE, on his oath deposed as follows.-I am a stock-owner
residing at Heathstock Station. I am not aware of ever having seen the
prisoner before; he has never been bullock driving for me since I have had
charge of the station. I have never seen him in India to the best of my
recollection. I have never employed him in any capacity whatever since I
have been in New Zealand. I have never authorized him to use my name at Mrs
DILLON's for procuring money. I never gave him an order on Mrs DILLON. Mrs
DILLON informed me on Monday last, the 19th instant, that a man named PRINS
had obtained money from her in my name, stating that he was a bullock driver
of mine. I informed her that none of my drays were in Christchurch at the
time.
The prisoner reserved his defence.
Mr Hamilton then said that he had no other course left open to him but to
commit the prisoner to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme
Court.

SeagerColonist, 12 March 1909, Page 2
Mr E. W. Seager, who for the past 17 years has occupied the position of
usher of the Christchurch Supreme Court, is to be retired at the end of the
present month, his age exceeding the limit laid down by the Civil Service
regulations. Mr Seager hag had a long and varied experience of Government
service, dating back almost to the beginning of the Canterbury Province. He
came out to New Zealand when a young man of 20 in the ship Cornwall,
arriving in Lyttelton on December 15, 1851, a year after the arrival of the
historic' first four ships. Mr Seager immediately joined the Armed
Constabulary, and remained in that branch of the public service for some
years, subsequently being appointed chief gaoler for Lyttelton and Timaru.
He then entered into mental hospital work, and at the request of Sir George
Grey and Sir Edward Stafford furnished reports on the reorganising of the
asylums at Auckland and Nelson respectively. Later Mr Seager made a trip to
the Old Country, and gathered much valuable information relating to asylums,
more generally in the cities of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Some years
ago Mr Seager was appointed the Canterbury Law Society's librarian, and it
is understood that he will continue to hold that position.

Worsley - Grandson a master mariner.
It was Frank A. Worsely who navigated the
James Caird through Drake's passage, 800 miles of the S. Atlantic Ocean
April 1916 to South Georgia Is. One of the world's most incredible
boat journey's. Frank was b. Akaroa in 1872 and schooled there was the
second son of Henry Theophilus and Georgina Worsley. His Grandfather, had
emigrated to Lyttelton, NZ, from Rugby, England in 1851. He wrote a
diary of voyage of the Worsley family from London, England to Auckland, NZ
on the sailing vessel "Dunloe" 28 August 1880-10 December 1880.
At the age of fifteen, he joined the New Zealand Shipping Company as an
apprentice midshipman. In 1888 he made his first voyage on the "Wairoa"
a clipper, which sailed from N.Z. to London. England. He made many voyages
in a number of ships owned by the NZSC and whilst learning his trade became
interested in navigation. In 1895 he left the company with an excellent
record of service. He joined the NZ Government Steamer Service as a second
mate on the "Tutanekai" which sailed from New Zealand to a number of
Pacific Island destinations. By 1900 he had risen to the rank of Chief
Officer and sat and passed his master's certificate. His first command was
the New Zealand Government's ship "The Countess of Ranfurly". He also
worked on the "George Cochrane", "Kathleen Annie", "Anna V",
"Tyrconnell". In 1906 he left N.Z. to seek work in England. Served as
a reserve officer in the Royal Navy before becoming captain of the
Endurance. He commanded two ships in World War I, for which he was
decorated. On 26th September 1917 Worsley whilst in command of PQ61 sailing
off the coast of Southern Ireland spotted a German U-Boat which had just
torpedoed a convoy ship. He skilfully manoeuvred his ship and rammed and
sank the U-Boat. Worsley was awarded the D.S.O. for his actions. Then a
second DSO fighting the Bolshevik Army. He sailed with Shackleton again in
1921-1922. Frank was the hydrographer and sailing master on the "Quest",
Shackleton's last expedition. He also participated in Spirit running into
the United States during their Prohibition era, searched for gold off Costa
Rica and treasure hunting on Cocos Islands. In 1925 he was the joint
leader of the British Arctic Expedition. He died in 1943. Worsley has
written several autobiographical books about his early family life in
Canterbury, e.g. "First Voyage on a Square Rigged Ship". Died
Claygate, Surrey, England. Died 1st February 1943. Surrey, England.
St. John's Crematorium .Surrey.

The Star, Christchurch Wednesday 6 May 1891 page 3
Obituary -SolomonSTEPHENS -
At half past 6o'clock this morning another of Canterbury's early settlers Mr
Solomon Stephens, of Rangiora entered "the quiet haven" after a long
illness. Mr Stephens was born in the village of Chittoe, Wiltshire, England,
in the latter part of 1831. When he was between 19 and 20 years of age he
married, and the newly wedded couple immediately set sail in the
"Cornwall" which arrived in Lyttelton but a few months after the
historical "first four ships dropped anchor. For the first 6 years after his
arrival Mr Stephens lived in Christchurch and its neighbourhood, finding
employment. In 1857 he moved his family to Rangiora, where he settled on
land, acquired some time previously, which he occupied until his death. Not
long after putting up his house he opened it as the "Plough Inn"
------------- He leaves a widow, and a family of three sons and eight
daughters, of whom all but 3 are married. a very long column.

Hutt News, 12 July 1933, Page 5 OBITUARY.
[Cecila M. Popplewell m. John Rainbow Stansell in 1868]
MRS J. R. STANSELL
The death occurred at her residence on 26th June, after a brief illness of
Mrs. C. M. Stansell, one of the early pioneers of this country. The late Mrs
Stansell who was the widow of the late Mr John Rainbow Stansell, had resided
in Lower Hutt for about eight years where she took a very keen interest in
the life of St. James Church. The funeral service, which was attended by a
large circle of friends, took place at St. James's Church on June 28th
before proceeding to Karori Cemetery. The church service was conducted by
the vicar, Rev H. E. K. Fry, Rev H. V. C. Reynolds, and the late vicar of
the parish, Ven Archdeacon Hansell who, with Mr Reynolds conducted the
service at the graveside. In a short address the vicar feelingly referred to
the many fine qualities of the deceased lady whom he said had been for many
years a diligent Church worker and was to be found in her place at Church
every Sunday. She had been among the worshippers at St. James's within a few
days of her passing over to the Church unseen. She had been ever anxious to
work with her needle to provide clothing for those in need and would be much
missed in the parish The late Mrs Stansell was born at Gravesend, England,
in 1850, and arrived at Lyttelton with her parents the following year in the
ship Cornwall. On arrival at Lyttelton, the women folk had to remain on
board ship while the men went ashore and built huts for them. Her early life
was spent at Temuka, and after marriage she took up her residence in South
Canterbury. The early years of her married life were spent in pioneering
work in the rugged MacKenzie Country, Mrs JE Stansell being one of the
first women settlers. Subsequently she took up her residence in Timaru,
where she was well, known and greatly respected. From Timaru the family
moved to the North Island, and for many years resided in Foxton. During the
past 20 years of her life Mrs Stansell lived at Lyall Bay and Lower Hutt.
She was a member of the first Hunt Club formed in New Zealand, and followed
the hounds. She was of a generous and kindly nature, and always kept open
house. In church and charity matter she was a very earnest but quiet worker.
Mrs Stansell is survived by seven children� Messrs W. F. Stansell
(Palmerston North). A. C. Stansell (Swanson, Auckland), P. T. Stansell
(Lower Hutt), and Mesdames W. G. Vickers (Levin), M. V. Reid (Lower Hutt),
T. C. Lomas (Ngaio), and S. Raper (Featherston). She also leaves twenty-two
grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Evening Post, 18 December 1893, page 2
Carterton, This Day. Another pioneer settler has passed away. Mr. Edmund
JUPP, aged 79, died this morning. he came early in the fifties in the ship
Cornwall, and was for many years a schoolteacher under the board.

Evening Post, 19 March 1901, Page 6
NAPIER, This Day. The death is announced of Captain TUKE, who took a
prominent part in the Native war. He arrived in the ship Cornwall in
1851, and when the war broke out was appointed by Sir George GREY as second
in command under Colonel J. FRASER. of the Military Settlers, and saw active
service on the East Coast, for which he received the New Zealand war Medal.
He was also for 18 months in charge of the native prisoners at the Chatham
Islands, but was not there when they escaped. Deceased was in his 75th year.

New Zealander, 3 January 1852, Page 2
The barque Cornwall, 452 tons, Captain Dawson, arrived at
Lyttelton on the 10th instant, from London, with 105 passengers, sent out by
the Canterbury Association. This fine vessel, the property of Messrs.
Wigrams, of Blackwall, is commanded by Captain Dawson, formerly of the
Slains Castle, whose services during the disturbances in the North in
1845, will long be remembered by our old colonists, many of whom will, we
have no doubt, be glad to learn of his safe arrival in the colony again,
although his death was reported some time ago in the columns of our
contemporary the Southern Cross.

The Star (Christchurch), Saturday July 4 1903, Page 4,
Column 5.
Written by Edward William SEAGAR who was the first Superintendent of Sunnyside
Hospital in Christchurch, a mental hospital. One can generally find his 1903
articles in The Star (Christchurch) at
Papers Past by
checking out page 4 of the Saturday editions. June and July articles are at the
top middle of the pages. A PIONEER'S STORYFrom London to Lyttelton.
Life on board an emigrant ship.
(By a Pioneer of the Fifties.)

In response to the request of a large number of correspondents, "A Pioneer of
the Fifties" has consented to retrace his steps and furnish the following account
of his voyage to New Zealand:-

The good ship Cornwall left the West India Docks on August
12, 1851, bound for Port Lyttelton, with a miscellaneous cargo and a
passenger list comprising fifty-three first and second saloon and forty-nine
steerage passengers. All were emigrants, who had left the Mother Country
resolved to try their luck in a country which was then practically terra
incognita, and which had been painted in lively colours by touting agents as
a veritable El Dorado.

EMIGRANTS' QUARTERS

After the bustle and tearful parting inseparable from the
departure of a deep-waterman in those days had been gone through, the
passengers turned their attention towards finding their quarters and stowing
away their belongings. I found myself berthed in with the single men, of
whom there were twelve, right down in the bows, below the sailors' quarters
in the forecastle. The place was about 18ft in length by 8ft in width, and
the twelve bunks were ranged along each side, each being 6ft by 2ft 4in. In
the head of the ship was placed a board, which served the purpose of a
table. These quarters, besides being dark and ill-ventilated, possessed the
uncomfortable disadvantage of being built on the curve of the bows, and the
result was that in the less-favoured bunks there was a most pronounced
twist, which compelled the occupants to seek repose in a posture somewhat
resembling the shape of the new moon. At first this occasioned great
discomfort, and the proprietors of the circular bunks developed undesirable
shifting proclivities in their slumbers, which frequently brough their toes
within close proximity of the features of their more fortunately situated
messmates. However, use at length made them more accustomed to their
unnatural posture, and b the time the voyage was well under way they had
managed to contain themselves within their allotted space, to the
satisfaction of everybody. Right aft was the single women's quarters, in a
sort of cage enclosure. The married couples had for their sleeping berths
what may be described as a hut with the side facing amidships open.

THE FIRST NIGHT.

We started on our voyage from Gravesend on August 14. I
shall never forget our first meal on board. A large junk of roast beef,
several loaves of new bread, and tea, constituted the spread, and, standing
room in the berth being at a discount, several had perforce to climb into
their bunks to eat their food. This style of "pigging it" rather made us
gasp, but we consoled ourselves with the reflection that things would
improve when we settled down. That night the night air below being
insufferable, several of our mess remained on deck all night, and in the
morning we partook of a similar ration to that which had been served on the
previous night. Already I had begun to wish for the shore again.

INSTRUCTION AND AMUSEMENT.

There were a number of young children on board, and the
second day out I received an appointment as ship's schoolmaster, which
carried with it an authority to obtain from the ship steward medical
comforts in the shape of fresh bread, three bottles stout weekly, fresh meat
from the saloon, and, in addition to other perquisites, �25 on the
completion of the voyage upon the good report of the chaplain. I thus became
a person of substance, and the Prince Fortunatus of the steerage. The
Canterbury Association, which had sent us out, had equipped the ship in
every necessary. There was a chaplain, a doctor and his assistant, with a
good supply of medical comforts, a schoolmaster, two constables, an
excellent library, toys for the children, hymn-books and Bibles.

ROUGH WEATHER.

Down Channel we had a smooth passage, but one night, when
crossing the Bay of Biscay, a storm sprang up. The lively motion of our
little vessel was a revelation to us, and amid a general avalanche of the
family plate, I was shot out of bunk, with two others on top of me.
Regaining my feet with some difficulty, I slipped on some clothes and made
my way through to the married couples' compartment. Here I beheld a scene
which

I SHALL NEVER FORGET.

Intermingled with the rattle and crash of the tin crockery
and other moveables, which were being dashed hither and thither, were the
screams of terrified women and children. Distracted husbands stood over
their bunks making noble efforts to prevent their summary ejection, but the
crazy motion of the ship made their efforts all but futile, their strength
being required to maintain their own equilibrium.
Suddenly I heard a terrific shriek, and nest moment was struck and knocked
down by what appeared to be a flying bundle of bedding. I rolled about the
deck, backwards and forwards, with the bundle clutching on to me for dear
life, and I hanging on to it. Other bundles, in rapid transit, attached
themselves to us, and my first partner, who turned out to be a young married
woman, implored me to tell her if the ship was sinking. I assured her that
she was quite safe ; and at last we came to a halt, and disentangled
ourselves. I found out her name, and calling aloud for her husband,
presently brought him to the rescue, and he pulled us both from beneath the
table.

FOOD THIEVES.

The ordinary rations consisted of salt pork, salt beef,
biscuits, treacle, soup and boulli, with pickles every third day. These
pickles were kept in a jar on a shelf in our berth. A few days out the
pickles began to disappear mysteriously., and so serious at last became the
depredations that a consultation was held as to the best means of detecting
the thief. We were quite satisfied that none of the Twelve Apostles, for
that was what we called ourselves, got more than his rightful share, and I
was appointed a detective to discover the depredator. That very night I made
my preparations, and in the middle watch, while everyone was fast asleep,
the 'tween decks resounded with an unearthly shriek, followed by a volley of
frightful oaths. I jumped up, and , getting a lighted lamp from the married
people's quarters, I discovered one of the ship's apprentices with his hand
held hard and fast in the pickle jar. His bellowings had in the meantime
aroused many of the passengers, who, with the officer of the watch, were
standing around him, wide-eyed with astonishment. The youngster was quite
unable to extricate his hand, so the jar was broken, bringing relief to the
prisoner at the same moment that it disclosed the cause of his dicomfiture.
Among the pickles had been placed a round piece of cork studded with needles
to resemble a prickly burr, and the thief, thrusting his hand into the neck
of the jar, had closed his fingers upon the needles, which he was powerless
to let go. No more pickles were lost.

SUNDAY DEVOTIONS.

Every Sunday the emigrants and ship's company assembled for
divine service, which was held on the main deck in fine weather. The choir,
which comprised Mr W. S. Moorhouse, Dr. B. Moorhouse, Mr D. Phillips, Mr I.
Innes, myself and four children, was a capital combination, and took its
station at the break of the poop. After the second service a suggestion was
made to the chaplain, the Rev. Joseph Twigger, that refreshments should be
provided for the choir, and this suggestion being approved, the practices,
were at once extended to three a week. During the service, while the sermon
was being delivered, the choir retired to the stern and consumed its
allowance of two bottles of stout, biscuits, cheese and sandwiches.

A SUSPICIOUS DEATH.

The unaccountable demise of a hound belonging to one of the
passengers gave rise to grave suspicion and concern. A consultation was
held, and the doctors, with an eye to the medical comforts on board,
arranged for a post mortem examination. After much learned wrangling, in
which the medical comforts were brought largely into requisition, it was
decided death had resulted from a species of fever, hitherto unknown to the
faculty, and the body was solemnly interred in the deep.

RUNNING DOWN THE EASTING

We experienced heavy weather while running down the easting,
and the ship was battened down for several days at a time. With close
confinement, the air below became almost suffocating, and we were glad
indeed when the weather had moderated sufficiently to allow of the battens
being removed. By this time the water had got very bad, being thick and of a
reddish colour and offensive smell. Strange to say, it righted itself and
became sweet to drink before the voyage was ended.

NEW ZEALAND

What a cheer went up when the cry of "Land Ho!" revealed the
dark cloud on the horizon which indicated Stewart's Island, and how eagerly
the passengers scanned the dim outlines to gather some idea of the nature of
the country which was to be their future home. Next day we passed Otago
Heads, and, beating up the coast against a north-easter, we rounded Banks
Peninsula, when Captain Greaves, acting harbour-master, boarded us outside
the heads.

TUSSOCK GRASS

Running up the harbour, the tussocks on the hills which were
then of immense size, attracted the attention of a passenger, and he shouted
out, "Look at the sheep!" A Cockney could certainly be forgiven for the
mistake, for, with the sunlight shining on their greyish tops, the tussocks
bore the appearance of animals.
On coming to our anchorage, Mr Godley, Mr Fitzgerald and the Rev. B. Dudley
came off to the ship. I was particularly struck with Mr Godley's manner to
the emigrants. It was full of hope and encouragement.

'Journal of a Voyage from England to
New Zealand'by C.A. TYLEE on Board the Barque CORNWALL 1851'
- Canterbury Museum Archives Christchurch
Charles Alexander TYLEE was a cabin passenger, age 20 (ship's log). Prayers 'as
usual' were at 10am & 6pm. Temperatures in his cabin ranged between 48-86
degrees Fahrenheit. TYLEE's journal ended with various summaries - his
descriptions of the Captain, Surgeon & the Clergyman ; what people should bring
with them (and to have one's name marked indelibly on all property!) ; what the
surgeon brought to treat sick passengers, etc. He thought the Captain was a
'superior gentleman' & the surgeon a good fellow. On Rev'd TWIGGER :
'he is a cheerful, lively companion, extensively informed & very obliging'.

Extracts :- Sat 16 Aug : About 2 o'clock am this morning, many of the
passengers were alarmed by the clergyman who was attacked with a fit of 'Delirium Tremens'
and rushed wildly up and down the deck declaiming that the 'captain & crew had
conspired together to rob and murder him, but he was armed, and would defend his life to
the last', at the same time drawing a dagger knife which was soon taken from
him. The Captain behaved in the most gentlemanlike manner and offered to put
him on shore. The surgeon however, having written a report of the transaction
to the Canterbury Association, had a boat lowered and sent the boat to shore.
The anchor was again weighed - then proceeded on our way.
Sun 17 Aug : ............. the Rev'd J. TWIGGER still in an unfit state to perform
service.
Wed 20 Aug : Began writing letters home. I was asked today by one
of the steerage passengers 'if my name was TYLEE'. The person who asked the
question being DILLON, the butcher's brother at Bath.
Tue 26 Aug : ............ some cats which were on board being found to be very
disagreeable, were today flung overboard.
Sat 30 Aug Wind and & weather still fair. Dancing on deck and singing in
the evening. Two sheep died. Of course, I did not join in the light
fantastic step.
Mon 01 Sept : ........... dancing on quarter-deck in the evening.
Tue 02 Sept : ........... this evening a pig jumped overboard.
Thu 04 Sept : ........... dancing in evening.
Tue 09 Sept : ........... dancing in the evening on deck.
Sat 13 Sept : Fine day. Nine vessels in sight, all outward bound.
Sun 14 Sept : Prayers in the morning and sacrament administered for the first time.
Tue 16 Sept : Sea still very calm. Dancing in the evening.
Thu 25 Sept : Prayers morning & evening. The evening was spent in dancing
and singing on account of our crossing the line. Shaving was not allowed but
the Captain ordered grog to be served out to all the male passengers and crew, and also
regaled the ladies with wine. During the evening, Neptune (one of the sailors
dressed up) hailed the ship. He then came on board and presented his Address to the
Captain, after which he departed in this boat of fire (a tar tub set on fire and then set
adrift). The Captain's health was then drunk with honours then the health of 'his
wife and children', then 'the ladies' on board the Cornwall; after that, 'the
surgeon', and last but not least the health of 'Her Majesty the Queen' with honours, after
which all joined in singing 'God Save the Queen'. The Captain with Mrs Young, and Mr
Innes with Mrs Harris during the evening danced a 'Scotch Reel', and some of the sailors
an Hornpipe. The evening's amusements passed off very well - a subscription
was raised among the passengers for the sailors, and all was still and quiet by half past
twelve.

Neptune's Address : 'To the
right worthy Captain, Wm DAWSON, the Officers and Passengers on board the Barque
'CORNWALL', this comes greetings :
Whereas this, out trustworthy representative of the rights & privileges of my sons,
has again occasion to wait on your good ship, to solicit the claims as due to them (in
consideration of the uncouth practice of shaving being dispensed with) we beseech you so
to dispose the minds of all passengers on board your ship to contribute their various
proportions to the enjoyment of these my sons. Our wishes for a safe and
speedy passage to your good ship, with health and happiness to all on board remain with
you.'

Sun 05 Oct : Fine day after (am) service. Five children were christened.
Tue 07 Oct : Fine day. Prayers in the morning and evening. Vessel made
since noon yesterday 175 miles (142 southing, the remainder eastward). Several Cape
Pigeon, one of which was caught in the evening by a passenger by means of a hook and line.
Fine night, the moon being at its full. Vessel making 8 knots per hour.
Fri 24 Oct : Had a very restless night owing to the rocking of the vessel .... (very
stormy during the day) ..... the butcher also was sent from the hatchway into the hold
beneath. a height of about 16 feet : he however escaped with a bruise or too. [weather
continued rough from the 24th]
Tue 28 Oct : Little progress as mainyard being fixed and reset. 'Everyone on board seems
dispirited owing to the slow progress we are making'.
Sun 09 Nov: Banns read for the first time between a Mr T.E. Tuke, a chief cabin
passenger, & Kate Looney **...... in the evening there was dancing on the quarter-deck
until about 1 am. [** marriage between Edmund LUKE & Catherine LONELY on 08 Dec at
11am]
Tue 09 Dec: Faint breeze, with thick misty weather about 11am. The mist
suddenly cleared away and disclosed 'Akaroa Bay' ahead at a distance of about 8 miles.
It was a most splendid sight and was exactly the same view as you would see
were you looking against the 'Hampton Cliffs from Farleigh Hill. Banks
Peninsula in sight at a distance of 14 miles.
Wed 10 Dec: This morning, the first mate called us about 4 o'clock .....
during the night, he had tacked ship and rounded 'Banks Peninsula' and in two or three
more hours we should be safely anchored. This happily proved the case, and
about 11 o'clock, I found myself safe on New Zealand ground.
page 153: The only other case of disease worthy of record is one which has already been
mentioned in a former part of my journal, viz. that of the Rev'd J. TWIGGER.
Regarding this, it is enough to say that further acquaintance only served to confirm the
opinion already expressed regarding his disease, and its course. Since his
recovery, his duties have, however, been faithfully performed by him, giving no reason to
complain of his detention on board ship. .......... and I do not think I at all err in
reporting the health of the passengers on the whole as being very good, especially when it
is considered that upward of 100 persons have been cooped up in the small space of about
two houses for 4 months.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Christchurch, as in Bath, England, father Thomas DILLON was a butcher but he died only
41 years old in 1857. The DILLONs, according to the McDONALD Index at Canterbury Museum,
took over George GOULD's old shop in Armagh St and ran it as a kind of accommodation house
come sporting mens' club. Mrs DILLON applied for and was granted liquor licences in
the late 1850s. She later married George ARBER in 1863 and was eventually matron at
Picton Hospital. She and her daughter Clara, and Clara's husbands are buried
together at Picton Cemetery. Alfred Wellington DILLON was a businessman &
hotelier in Marlborough, and he finished up as a milkman at Blenheim. Ellen
Jane DILLON married 3 times, her only child was to her last husband, William SPEARINK, a
farmer at Featherston. Frederick Nelson DILLON occupations included horse dealer,
stationhand, labourer, shepherd and drover. He married Edith Matilda WHEELER.
Frederick died 1914 at Avondale Hospital in Auckland. Thomas Harford was at Hanmer as a
horsebreaker on 10 acres of land in the late 1860s to mid 1870s. He was a farm manager at
Tinui near Castlepoint in the Wairarapa, from about 1876 to about 1890, and then as a gold
prospector/labourer/hotelier/etc in the Deek Creek & Mahikipawa areas in Marlborough
from about 1890. It seems that a farming venture by Thomas Harford at Tinui made him
bankrupt during the 1880s because his sheep were afflicted by the big outbreak of scab
then.

The above information courtesy of Peter Dillon.
Peter has extensive information re the DILLONs at Bath in England and in New
Zealand and welcomes enquiries. Posted 29 April 2000 and updated 24 Jan.
2014.

Diaries

Reference: Log of Logs by Ian Nicholson

John Pugh's diary was published in Sea Breezes, No's 97-100,
Vol.10, Dec 1927 - March 1928. Copy in the Wellington Maritime Museum

Charles Alexander Tylee to Lyttelton and Wellington. Photocopy of
original and Canterbury Association Shipping papers are at the Canterbury Museum Archives.

The Cornwall under charter to the
New
Zealand Land Company made her first voyage to New Zealand, sailing from Deal, April
20, 1849, arriving at New Plymouth 18 August, 1849 and among the passengers were Mr and
Mrs Chas. Batkin and Mr and Mrs Wells. After discharging cargo she proceeded to
Nelson, arriving there on 25 August 1849 and then landed passengers at Wellington and
arrived in Dunedin 23 Sept. with 70
passengers. She
was under the command of Captain W. Dawson who had previous came out to New Zealand in
command of the Amelia Thompson to New Plymouth March 25 1841. On August 13, 1853
she arrived in Wellington from London with 112 passengers then on to Nelson arriving 19
Sept. Reference: White Wings Vol. II by Sir Henry Brett.

Capt. W. Dawson 'crossed the
bar' in Hong Kong (died)

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